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Denmark ambassador to Nigeria, Torben Gettermann, says Nigeria export to Denmark rose by 156.6 per cent within the first three months of 2018 in relation to the same period in 2017.

The outgoing ambassador told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that during the period the export from Nigeria to Denmark also rose from 173, 000 dollars to 1.1 million dollars.

Gettermann, who noted with concern that the trade volume was too small, said that he was in Nigeria to enhance the trade relations between his country and Nigeria.

“We have had a trade imbalance; we have imported so much from Nigeria than we have exported.

“At the height of it, it was basically twice as much or thrice as much from Nigeria than what we exported, because we were importing crude oil and this has gone down,” he said.

According to him, there was a significant drop in 2016 and even 2017, but it is going up again slightly in 2017 and it seems to be going up too in 2018.

“In the first three months of 2018, our import of goods from Nigeria worth Danish Krone (DKK) 1.1 million ($173,000).

“This represents a rise of 156.6 per cent in relation to the same time period in 2017 DKK 400,000 ($64,000),” the envoy said.

He explained that Denmark import from Nigeria totaled DKK 367 million ($57.2M) in 2017 which is a rise of 11.8 per cent relative to 2016.

“The commodity group with the highest import value to Denmark in 2017 was petroleum, petroleum products and related materials worth DKK 365.3 million ($57m).

“Our import of services from Nigeria totaled DKK 1.1 billion ($800 million) in 2016,” he said.

The envoy explained further that Nigeria was Denmark’s 74th largest export market (goods) in 2017.

He said that export of goods from Denmark to Nigeria worth DKK 573 million ($89.3M) in 2017, accounting for 0.09 per cent of total Danish goods exports.

He however said that goods exported to Nigeria fell by 4.3 per cent in 2017 in relation to 2016.

The envoy explained that in 2016 goods worth DKK 328 million ($45.2m) was exported to Nigeria while goods worth DKK 367 million ($58.9m) was exported to Nigeria in 2017.

“The commodity group with the highest export value in 2017 was dairy products and birds eggs worth DKK 151.1 million ($23.5m).

“Exports of services to Nigeria totaled DKK 684 million ($106.6m) in 2016.

“In the first three months of 2018, Danish exports of goods to Nigeria was worth DKK 167.6 million ($26.2m).

“This is a rise of 54.7 per cent relative to the same time period in 2017 of DKK 108.3 million ($16.9m),” he said.

Gettermann stressed that the trade volume was a bit low and has a lot to do with Danish companies not having much focus on Nigeria.

“We have to sell Nigeria to Denmark by telling the good stories; we have to tell them that it is possible to do it in Nigeria, to invest in Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)

The National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) on Monday commenced the distribution of relief materials to victims of flood in some parts of Kaduna State.

The agency’s Director General, Mr Mustapha Maihaja said in Kaduna that blankets, corn, rice, mattresses, cement and detergents were being distributed because these were the immediate needs of the victims.

Maihaja said beside the materials, the agency toured Ungwa Romi, Karatudu, Gonin Gora and Kigo Road new extension areas that were mostly affected by the flood.

The Director General, who was represented by Air commodore Akugbe Iyamu, Director Search and Rescue in the agency, said the agency had been monitoring the rise in water level around the state.

“As at yesterday (Sunday) we are not too comfortable with the situation, that is what necessitated the distribution of relief materials to the victims,” Maihaja.

Mr Ben Kure, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) lauded the quick response of NEMA to the situation.

Kure said the state government would put in adequate measures to reduce flooding in some parts of the state.

“We are also appealing to the people, especially those living by the water ways to begin to think of what next to do to check flooding.

“Certain measures are also going to be enforced as regards the sitting of homes near the river or on water ways, because we are a government that cares about the people,” he said. (NAN)

Niger state government says it has completed the repairs of the collapsed bridge along in Kakapangi village along Minna-Bida road in Bida Local Government Area of the state.

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, disclosed this during the inspection of the bridge on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bridge collapsed on Friday during a heavy downpour.

NAN reports that the governor had on Friday directed the Ministry of Works to fix the failed section of the road within 24 hours.

Bello, who expressed satisfaction with the prompt repairs, said that the bridge was now fit to accommodate motorist plying the road.

He advised articulated vehicles plying the road to desist from overloading and comply with approved standard so as to reduce pressure on the road.

NAN report that the road links the South West, North West and North Central states of the federation. (NAN)

Uber Nigeria, a transportation network company, has advised the public to confirm the identity of its drivers and other taxi drivers before engaging their services.

Francesca Uriri, Head of Communications, Uber West Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday that confirming the identity of the drivers was necessary to avoid contracting the services of people of questionable character.

She said not all those who claimed to be Uber drivers actually work with the company.

“It has come to the notice of the company that some drivers commit crime, claiming to be Uber drivers.

“There is a database where drivers on Uber app are listed and all drivers who claim to work with Uber can actually be verified from that database.

“Uber values the safety of riders and driver-partners before, during and after every trip;  this is why Uber continually improves their safety features worldwide.

“On the driver’s side, driver-partners and their vehicles are pre-screened before being enlisted, thereby empowering riders with the knowledge that they are being transported in quality and vetted vehicles by responsible drivers.

“ All drivers must undergo a screening process before they can use the Uber app as well as register with the required vehicle and personal documentation,’’ she said.

Uriri said Uber was committed to ensuring that riders are safe while on the road hence the need to put in place safety features.

She explained:“These safety features include Incident Response Team (IRT) which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond immediately to any reported incident or accident globally.

“Uber also has a team of former law enforcement professionals who are working closely with the local Police to support any investigation.

“Also, GPS tracking of every trip, giving people the ability to be able to share their trip information in real-time with loved ones is available.

“ Share My Trip for Riders and Drivers, a safety feature which allows riders and drivers to share their whereabouts and trip status with friends and family is also a safety feature of Uber’s.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Uber transportation Network Company, which was founded in March 2009, has its headquarters in San Francisco, U.S.(NAN)